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Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of TGF-β on macrophage-derived cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in bladder cancer tissue. Methods The Kaplan-Meier method was used to investigate the relationship between the expression of α-SMA+CD68+CAF and overall survival (OS) in bladder cancer; immunofluorescence assay was used to observe the infiltration of α-SMA+CD68+CAF in bladder cancer tissue; Western blot was used to observe the inductive effect of TGF-β on α-SMA+CD68+CAF in vitro. A mouse model of bladder cancer was established, and immunofluorescence assay and immunohistochemistry were used to observe the inductive effect of TGF-β on α-SMA+CD68+CAF and its effect on the infiltration of CD8+T cells in mice with bladder cancer. Results The expression of α-SMA was positively correlated with that of CD68 in bladder can-cer tissue, and the patients with a high expression level of α-SMA+CD68+CAF tended to have a poorer prognosis (χ2=9.05,P

Tandem solar cells (TSCs) present a prospective avenue to surpass the theoretical efficiency limits of single-junction solar cells (SJSCs). Antimony sulfide (Sb2S3), a 1.7 eV bandgap semiconductor, holds high potential to serve as the top-cell absorber for TSCs. Up to now, there are few reports on Sb2S3 two-terminal (2T) TSCs due to the limit of the hole transport layer (HTL) and interconnection layer. Herein, we succeed in implementing Sb2S3-based 2T-TSCs with the assistance of lead sulfide quantum dot (PbS QD) rear cells. Firstly, by using the 1,2-ethanedithiol capped quantum dots as HTL, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the Sb2S3 SJSC reaches 7.82%, a top value among all-inorganic Sb2S3 SC reports. More importantly, an efficient Au recombination layer is developed to bridge the two subcells and obtain the summation of the subcell open-circuit voltages (1.128 V) with a minimal voltage loss rate of ∼0.8%. After the modulation of the subcell absorber thickness by optical simulation and device investigation, the champion device achieves the photocurrent matching and its 2T-TSC PCE reaches 10.92%, the highest reported value among Sb2S3-based TSCs. Our work opens the door for Sb2S3 based 2T-TSCs, and is expected to trigger the hot research interest for all-inorganic antimony-based TSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large‐sized lead sulfide quantum dots (PbS QDs) offer strong absorption in the infrared, making them suitable for bottom cells in tandem devices. However, current QD‐based tandem devices underperform compared to single junction devices. This review focuses on defect information and passivation strategies in large‐sized QD solar cells. Defects from oxidation, polydispersity, and nonbonding sites on the (001) facet during QD synthesis are examined. Ligand‐exchange‐related defects such as tangled atoms, incomplete passivation, and excess ligands are analyzed. Surface and interface defects resulting from solar cell fabrication are also discussed. Strategies including cation exchange, thermodynamic growth, kinetic growth, and mixed halide ligands are summarized. Post‐treatment approaches could also help to address surface and interface defects. Large‐sized PbS‐QDs show promise as infrared radiation absorbers. Overcoming defects and implementing effective passivation strategies are crucial for single junction and tandem solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular matrix (ECM), as an important framework for tumor microenvironment, plays important roles in many critical processes, including tumor growth, invasion, immune suppression, and drug resistance. However, few biomarkers of ECM-related genes (ERGs) have been developed for prognosis prediction and clinical treatment of bladder cancer (BC) patients. Bioinformatics analysis and LC-MS/MS analysis were used to screen differentially expressed ERGs in BC. Multivariate Cox regression analysis and Lasso regression analysis were used to construct and validate an ERGs-based prognostic prediction model for BC. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of hub gene-COL6A1 in BC patients. Using bioinformatics analysis from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and proteomic analysis from our BC cohort, we constructed and validated an effective prognostic prediction model for BC patients based on four differentially expressed ERGs (MAP1B, FBN1, COL6A1, and MFAP5). Moreover, we identified human collagen VI-COL6A1 was a hub gene in this prognostic prediction model and found that COL6A1 was closely related to malignancy progression, prognosis, and response to PD-1 inhibitor immunotherapy in BC. Our findings highlight the satisfactory predictive value of ECM-related prognostic models in BC and suggested that COL6A1 may be a potential biomarker in predicting malignant progression, prognosis, and efficacy of immunotherapy in BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]